Category Archive: Journey

This Thursday marks our third weekend at the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market. Today promises to be the best, weather-wise, of the lot: the kind of Spring day you dream of when you’re cooped up inside on a frigid January day. Before I dash, a few mentions: –D’Amico & Sons has created a featured panini for May with asparagus, Bent River, cotto… Read More »

This past Saturday, I did a radio interview on the Fresh and Local Show in Minneapolis. I was more than a little nervous approaching the microphone, but Susan Berkson, the able host, made it almost painless, guiding me from one topic to the next with grace and ease. You can hear the podcast by clicking the link above. While there, I met Stephanie… Read More »

What a week it’s been here in Montreal. More to come, but I have to mention that Bent River received a third place ribbon in the Camembert category at the (North) American Cheese Society competition, topping dozens of other entries. One of my first posts covered my trip to the ACS conference three years ago in Chicago. I knew next to nothing… Read More »

I’m back in Mankato, and despite good intentions, never found time to post again from the road. Perhaps it’s for the best, as a little time to reflect can often help. I had a great weekend, half work, half pleasure. The work, and I use the term loosely, continued on Saturday with a drive down to Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, Illinois,… Read More »

I’m pleased to announce a new addition to our roster, Fromage Blanc. It’s a fresh cheese that takes about a day to make, but can then be enjoyed immediately. Some people compare it to a lighter version of cream cheese, and there are definite similarities. For me, it’s a blend of cream cheese, yogurt and creme fraiche. There is the acidic tang common… Read More »

It’s been about a year-and-a-half since the first wheel of Bent River reached a retail shelf. Since then, we’ve seen a slow but steady increase in sales. Somewhere in the back of my head, I had prepared myself for a moment when things would catch fire, and sales would double overnight. That’s been the case a few times, for instance… Read More »

It’s almost over. A year of more highs than lows, 2010 draws to a close and I have just a few moments to reflect. The last few months have been a whirlwind. First, there was a heavy production schedule to meet holiday demand. December has been filled with “demo” visits, with a flurry more before Christmas. Look for us tomorrow… Read More »

Oh, come on, you’ve got to let me get away with it, just this once. I’ve been a wayward blogger for quite a while now. I’ve meant to post an item any number of times, but something consequential or otherwise seemed to pop in my head and there it went. Also, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s much easier… Read More »

When I first hatched the idea to start an artisan cheese business, one of my first visions was the three of us, Alex, Mari and I, sampling and selling our cheese at a farmers market. Yesterday that vision became a reality, and it lived up to all of my wishes and expectations. We served many hundred samples and sold a… Read More »